Archive For

Charm City Devils has posted their new (& killer) cover of “Man of Constant Sorrow” online. This song is from the band’s up and coming album, Sin! Click on the songs tab below, and give it a play! It rocks!!!

Million-selling rock band Evans Blue has revealed that their forthcoming fourth studio album Graveyard of Empires will be unleashed on April 17th via Sounds + Sights Entertainment. Boasting infectious anthems fueled by indelible rock bravado, the band delivers an irrefutable musical powerhouse.

Evans Blue broke onto the scene in 2006 with their #1 debut on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart with The Melody and the Energetic Nature of Volume, which spawned the Top 5 single “Cold (But I’m Still Here).” The band’s first three studio albums have collectively sold over one million units worldwide.

The band is comprised of Dan Chandler (vocals), Parker Lauzon, (guitar), V (guitar) and Joe Pitter (bass), who are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on Graveyard of Empires with longtime producer Trevor Kustiak and mixer Dan Korneff (Papa Roach, Breaking Benjamin). Jason Pierce (Paramore’s touring drummer) hit the skins on nine tracks and band friend Mike McClure drummed on the album’s first single “This Time It’s Different” and on “Halo” – which was released in December as a holiday gift to fans.

“This album has something to say. It’s very personal for us, human and honest,” says Chandler. “You can hear our growth as a band and as brothers. We’re excited to share it with our fans!” Lauzon adds, “We poured our heart and soul into this album. We’ve bled on every track.”

After a four-year break since her last album, Lana Lane is back with her most powerful release to date, “El Dorado Hotel.” The veteran symphonic rock diva delivers a 10-song tour-de-force of finely crafted original tracks in an audiophile production by husband/keyboardist, Erik Norlander. When asked about the long break between “El Dorado Hotel” and her previous release, “Red Planet Boulevard” (2007), Lane replies, “As an artist, you hope that you have something new to say with each record. This became harder and harder to do – especially when during some years, there were two or more new Lana Lane records released. I only want to release top-quality, sincerely crafted albums, and I certainly don’t want to release an album just to release ‘something.’ After nearly 15 years of working non-stop, it was time for a little sabbatical. I needed a break from the pressure and time to gather some perspective on my craft.”

“El Dorado Hotel” hosts Lane’s usual broad spectrum of musical styles and genres with a cohesiveness that fans of the artist will recognize instantly. The opener, “A Dream Full of Fire,” is a new Lana Lane classic that blurs the line between prog metal and jazz stylings in a melange that only she can deliver. “Maybe We’ll Meet Again” is a European-styled melodic AOR radio anthem blending classic rock with modern sensibilities. The song, “El Dorado,” is a Lana Lane epic with a soaring chorus reminiscent of her classic, “Queen of Ocean.” The robust “Darkness Falls” introduces an Irish folk style combined with a gothic metal element with its haunting choral vocals and arena-crafted chorus. Then “Hotels” is an acoustic track that evokes jazz standards like “Autumn Leaves.” The tracks, “Believe,” “Life of the Party,”

“Gone Are The Days” and “Moon God” add further threads to the “El Dorado Hotel” tapestry. The album closes with the 11-1/2 minute opus, “In Exile” that producer Erik Norlander describes as a “vintage progressive rock epic.” Norlander comments, “We’ve never done anything quite like this on a Lana Lane record before. ‘In Exile’ begins with haunting Mellotron strings that immediately sets the tone for this very cinematic piece of music with great dynamics and drama along with some odd meter bits that help to tell the story. The musicians are all working overtime on this one!”

The musicians of “El Dorado Hotel” are a top-notch group of artists including both new and familiar faces. Lane says about the musicians, “Both Freddy DeMarco and Mark Matthews did some fantastic work on Erik’s solo project, “The Galactic Collective”. I then had the opportunity to play with them both during some live appearances in 2011 when I sang with the band. After having played with the guys and getting to know them, I knew that I wanted them to be a part of this project as well. Then for John Payne, Jay Schellen, Guthrie Govan and Bruce Bouillet (ex-Racer X), as you know, Erik has playing with John Payne for about 5 years now. When the original 1982 lineup of ASIA reformed a few years back, John Payne formed his own separate band to continue all the work that he had done with ASIA during his 14-year run and many albums with them. So John and Erik tour as “ASIA Featuring John Payne,” and they’ve probably played over a hundred shows together. Jay is the drummer in the band, and both Guthrie and Bruce have been the guitarists. Bruce is working with them currently. I of course go to a lot of their shows and have become friends with all of them. It is a great group of people, and they are all very talented musicians. Since we see them so much and Erik plays with them constantly, it was only natural to work with them on this album. And then finally for Mark McCrite, Neil Citron and Don Schiff, all three of them have been on so many Lana Lane albums going all the back to my very first album in 1995. It’s great to continue working with them through all these years.”

Songs for El Dorado Hotel were written by Lana Lane, Erik Norlander and longtime collaborator, Mark McCrite, who comments, “My favorite songs on the album are ‘El Dorado’ (with the fantastic Spanish guitar) and ‘A Dream Full of Fire’ – that’s a really killer ‘classic’ Lana Lane track.” You can hear those two songs from the album in their entirety at the Think Tank Media web site: http://www.thetank.com/lledh.htm

RIOTGOD’s sophomore album “Invisible Empire” will be released in a little over three weeks via Metalville Records. The album is available for pre-order HERE. Gun Shy Assassin is hosting an exclusive stream of the track “Crossfade” HERE.

RIOTGOD began in spirit through the conversations of Monster Magnet’s Bob Pantella and Jim Baglino while out on tour as early as 2006.

While touring with Monster Magnet provided them with some great times and afforded them the opportunity to perform around the world, each communicated a desire to express their own musical ideas.

During their time off the road, the pair began exploring the possibilities of creating their own band . Bob began to lay down some ideas to get the ball rolling come 2007.

Bob while recording ideas that would become many of the songs on RIOTGOD‘s first CD, also sought out musicians that would fill out the guitar and vocal slots for the then nameless band. Contacted first was Garrett Sweeny for guitar.

For the vocals, many possible names had been discussed, including some notable voices familiar via other established bands yet in the end the local NJ connection would lead to Mark Sunshine.

The band began to look for shows locally booking in NYC, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The venues would range from nationally familiar clubs such as Asbury Park’s Stone Pony to a gig in a Brooklyn loft.

Touring for the band would be another story. Each member still fulfilled their other musical obligations, most notably Jim and Bob being called out to tour with Monster Magnet, However challenging it may always be owing to scheduling — touring is a given.

RIOTGOD did its first mini-tour in 2009, hitting the road with fellow NJ rockers The Friends of Bill Wilson. RIOTGOD would visit the US mid-west and Canada, playing venues such as Chicago’s Double Door, Detroit’s Blondies, Toronto’s Bovine Sex Club as well as some lesser known colorful establishments along the way.

RIOTGOD is now back – with their second album. More straight, more rock, more stoner – more RIOTGOD.

It all starts Wednesday, January 11 with a performance on “The Rosie Show,” which will air at 7pm ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. For the performance of “Come Sail Away,” host Rosie O’Donnell accompanied the band on her own drum kit. The band’s classic episode of VH1’s “Behind The Music” has been updated—now called “Behind The Music Remastered”–and will be airing on Saturday, January 14 at 9pm ET/PT on VH1 Classic. Next up: NBC will air “Improve-Ice Starring STYX” on Sunday, January 15 at 4pm ET/PT, which was filmed in Greenville, SC at the Bi-Lo Center and features champion figure skaters Johnny Weir, Michael Weiss, Nancy Kerrigan, Jeremy Abbott, Ryan Bradley, Sasha Cohen, Nicole Bobek and Mirai Nagasu performing to various STYX classics. All of their routines were choreographed the day of the show. The HDNet channel will re-broadcast the 2006 concert special, “One with Everything – Styx & The Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland,” on Sunday, January 22 at 9pm ET/PT. STYX joined forces with Cleveland’s Contemporary Youth Orchestra–a 171-piece orchestra and choir composed of students aged 13-19–to perform various STYX classics. Fans should also check local listings for all of the programs.

On the DVD front, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Styx: The Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight Live on DVD, Blu-Ray, and DVD/2CD on January 31. This show was recorded November 9, 2010 at the historic Orpheum Theater in Memphis, on the tour that saw them perform both these albums in their entirety for the first time. The 20-song, two-hour and 11-minute presentation features stunning high-definition visuals accenting the complex musical arrangements recorded in DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital 5.1, and LPCM Stereo. The staging of these two multi-platinum albums and the fevered response makes this concert a must for all STYX fans. Styx: The Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight Live also includes the bonus feature “Putting On The Show,” an inside look at the people and equipment needed to stage such a massive spectacle.

Meanwhile, STYX’s entire career has recently been encapsulated within the 16 tracks of REGENERATION, VOLUME I & II, which was released October 4 via Eagle Rock Entertainment. In addition to 13 STYX classics and the new song, “Difference In The World,” the collection also includes interpretations of “High Enough” and “Coming Of Age,” originally recorded by Damn Yankees, which featured Tommy Shaw, along with Night Ranger’s Jack Blades, Ted Nugent and drummer Michael Cartellone.

Spawned from a Chicago basement in the early ‘70s, STYX would eventually transform into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late ’70s and early ’80s, due to a fondness for big rockers and soaring power ballads. Over the course of their 38-year career they’ve released 15 studio albums, 6 best-of compilations and 4 live albums, garnering 8 Top Ten singles. STYX has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Throughout their illustrious career, they’ve performed more live shows since 1999 than all of the previous years of its career combined. Two Super-Bowl appearances, Pollstar box office chart-topping tours with Def Leppard, Journey, Boston, REO Speedwagon and Bad Company (to name only a few), two more studio albums and no end in sight, STYX continues to conquer the planet, one venue at a time.

In touring news, the band’s schedule hasn’t slowed down since their summer tour with Yes last year. Check out STYX at any of the following stops, with more to be added in the coming weeks:

With the news that Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, his bandmates would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time. Iommi is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan–the “IRON MAN” of Rock & Roll remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery.

This comes as Black Sabbath–Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Bill Ward (drums)–are writing and recording their first album in 33 years in Los Angeles (still set for release this fall) with producer Rick Rubin. They will now go to the UK to continue to work with Tony. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

Singer Johnny Gioeli, drummer Mike Terrana , keyboard player Ferdy Doernberg , bass player Volker Krawczak and guitarist Axel Rudi Pell entered the studio in late November 2011 with Engineer and Co-Producer Charlie Bauerfeind, to record the next studio album, titled “Circle Of The Oath“.

Recordings are finished now and the final touches regarding mixing and mastering will be made this week.

Track listing:

1) THE GUILLOTINE SUITE (INTRO)
2) GHOST IN THE BLACK
3) RUN WITH THE WIND
4) BEFORE I DIE
5) CIRCLE OF THE OATH
6) FORTUNES OF WAR
7) BRIDGES TO NOWHERE
8) LIVED OUR LIVES BEFORE
9) HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS
10) WORLD OF CONFUSION (THE MASQUERADE BALL PT. II)

The Yardbirds, the band that spearheaded the British Blues Boom of the 1960s, the band that brought the world Eric Clapton in 1963, Jeff Beck in 1965 and Jimmy Page in 1966 (who played in the band with Beck for four months), the band that continues to inspire artists worldwide, will tour the Northeast starting February 1 in Buffalo, New York.

The lineup includes critically-acclaimed original drummer/composer Jim McCarty, guitarist Ben King, who has garnered a reputation as one of hottest, most tasteful young guitar players around, bassist David Smale (a much-respected and admired UK-based musician) and vocalist Andy Mitchell, whose sound is straight out of the mid-’50s Chicago school of blues. Chris Dreja, guitarist and co-founder, is recuperating at home after a recent illness and regrets that he won’t be able to be a part of this short tour. He thanks all his fans for their good wishes and looks forward to seeing them again when he re-joins the band later in the year for a more extensive tour.

Known as much for their strict allegiance to the blues as for their international chart-topping hit “For Your Love,” The Yardbirds have never lost their drive and jet-propelled beat, due mainly to Mr. McCarty. Their “Train Kept A’ Rollin'” inspired Aerosmith to tackle the same song. Their early forays into heavy rock inspired Page to form his own band, originally named The New Yardbirds, but ultimately named Led Zeppelin.

The Yardbirds, electrifying, eclectic and way ahead of their time, melded heavy rock, wild jams, and an improvisatory feel, and continue to influence generations of bands. Go to a Yardbirds show and you’ll find crowds filled with 20-somethings to baby boomers all thrilling to this band’s legendary power. Watching The Yardbirds in action is experiencing rock’n’roll history.

The Yardbirds will co-bill with Vanilla Fudge at the following venues: *

The history of Witch dates all the way back to 1982. Peter Wabitt and Punky Peru formed the band when their former member Don Costa was snatched up by Ozzy Osbourne. Witch opened for many bands on the Sunset Strip including W.A.S.P., Loudness, Obviously, the band never had the same level of success as the Motley Crue and Ratt, but that doesn’t mean the band didn’t have some cool tunes to check out.

Most of the band’s discography was only available on Vinyl and Cassette. FNA Records has unearthed some cool metal tunes that most people never got a chance to hear.Most of the songs on The Hex is On…And Then Some is from Witch’s original EP from 1984, The Hex Is On.

What does Witch sound like? The band has the raw sound of early Motley Crue, with little bits of Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister thrown in for good measure. The second half of the CD features tunes with some massive guest stars like Slash, Steve Stevens, Rowan Robertson and Chris Holmes. The sound quality is a mixed bag on this CD due to the age of the recordings. It does not take away from the fact that FNA Records has unearthed some extremely cool tunes with The Hex is On… And Then Some. Just give the songs “Damnation”, “Can’t Take Our Rock” and “Black Magic” a listen and you will know what I mean.

The song “Black Magic” with Steve Stevens over the top guitar playing is almost worth the price of admission of the CD all by itself. The song “Crazy” with Chris Holmes on guitar would sound great on the radio today! This is another really cool tune.

If you are a fan of 80’s metal, you gotta look into Witch, and this lost classic, The Hex is On… And Then Some. I think you will enjoy it. I know I have been!